If no history is known, it is safest to assume previous vaccinations have NOT been given and give the two shot series to establish protective titers. In some cases, a simple phone call to the previous owner to establish past vaccination history can be helpful in creating a vaccination protocol for your new horse.

Yes, there is NO scientific evidence that West Nile vaccinations cause abortions or deformities.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends that foals start the vaccination series for West Nile at 3-4 months.

There are several treatments aimed at minimizing symptoms and arresting progression. At this time, there is no specific cure for the disease. While some horses make a complete recovery, others survivors may have long term deficits. Approximately 33% of horses that contract West Nile disease will die or be euthanized.

West Nile virus is not transmitted from horse to horse. Horses are known as “dead-end hosts”. This means that horses do not create enough virus particles for mosquitoes to transmit West Nile virus from an infected horse to a healthy horse. However, the conditions in your area may be right for local birds to carry the disease. Your best protection is proper vaccinations and strict mosquito control measures.